Trigger actuated power unit

ABSTRACT

The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit is disclosed comprising a fluid powered power train operative in conjunction with a spring powered power train, said fluid powered power train having a moveable member which is power actuated in the power stroke thereof, and latch means for latching said said moveable member train in active cocked position in operative relation to said moveable object so that upon application of said external force said fluid powered power train is triggered to effect a power stroke in which said moveable object is power actuated at least in part by said moveable member.

United States Patent McDonnell [54] TRIGGER ACTUATED POWER UNIT PrimaryExaminer-Aldrich F. Medbery Assistant Examiner-Daniel .l. LeachAttorney-William L. Fisher ABSTRACT The improvement in a triggeractuated power unit is disclosed comprising a fluid powered power trainoperative in conjunction with a spring powered power train, said fluidpowered power train having a moveable member which is power actuatedin'the power stroke thereof, and latch means for latching said saidmoveable member train in active cocked position in operative relation tosaid moveable object so that upon application of said external forcesaid fluid powered power train is triggered to effect a power stroke inwhich said moveable object is power actuated at least in part by saidmoveable member.

8 Clelms, 7 Drawlng Figures PATENTEBMM 9 I972 INVEN'I OK.

TRIGGER ACTUATED POWER UNIT My invention relates to trigger actuatedpower units for power actuating a moveable object. l-have heretoforeprovided a trigger actuated power unit used in fishing. (See my priorUS. Pat. No. 2,781,600 issued Feb. 19, l957.)-l have since inventedcertain improvements upon my said prior trigger actuated power unitwhich pertain, inter alia, to the latch mechanism for cooking the powerunit in active position, to the construction of a platform in relationto the spring powered power train, and to a fluid poweredpower train,all of which cooperate in producing the powered action outputof thepower unit. The provision of these improvements in a trigger actuatedpower unit which is triggered by an external force applied thereto isthe principal object of my invention.

The foregoing object of my invention and the advantages thereof willbecome apparent during the course of the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are different side elevational views of a trigger actuatedpower unit embodying my invention showing the same, respectively, inactive cooked and triggered release positions;

FIGS. 3 through 6 are different views of the structure of FIG. 1 taken,respectively, on the lines 3-3 through 6-6 thereof; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the spring powered power train triggermechanism showing the same in an initial release position for triggeringthe power stroke of said trigger actuated power unit.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail; 10 generally designatessaid trigger actuated power unit which, in the instance, is shown usedfor fishing and supports a conventional fishing rod 12. The power unit10 is made fast to suitable stationary structure, such as a mountingplate 14. The mounting plate 14 may be supported on any suitablesupporting structure and, in the instance, supports an upright pipe 16into which, in the instance, the lower end ofa supporting pipe 18' forsaid power unit 10 telescopes. A wing nut 19 threadably carried on theupper end of the pipe l6'must be loosened to disengage said pipe 18 fromsaid pipe 16. A bracket 20 on the upper end of the supporting pipe 18wraps about and holds a spring powered power train 24 comprising atubular column 22 which contains a tension spring 25 affixed at one endto a platform, generally designated 26, and at the other end to anadjustable tensioning means 28 at the front end of the column 22. Theplatform 26 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 27 fast on a side of thecolumn and said platform 26 via the center portion thereof carries aholder mechanism, generally designated 30 which, in the instance, isused to grip said fishing rod 12. The means by which the platform 26 ispivoted to the bracket 27 consists of a pair of spaced apart armsdisposed ahead of and projecting from said center portion of theplatform 26.

A fluid powered power train for said power unit 10, generally designated32, consists essentially of an pneumatic (or hydraulic) cylinder andpiston power unit 34 which is pivotally mounted, as at 35, upon saidmounting plate 14. The adjustment for said power unit 34 to vary theforce of the power stroke thereof is indicated at 33. Said power unit 34is strapped, as at 36, to the pipe 16 in a manner which permits limitedpivotal movement of said power unit 34, particularly during latching ofsaid power unit 10 in its active cocked position and at the end of thepower stroke when the holder mechanism 30 is thrown to its triggeredrelease position. In the instance, a bumper mechanism 38 is strappedfast to the power unit 34 to absorb some of the shock of impact inarresting movement of the fish rod 12 at the end of the power stroke.

It should be noted that the rear portion of the platform 26 is bent atabout right angles to said center portion thereof so that it is pulledinto the rear end of the column 22 by the tension spring 25, the actionof which is strictly axial. Male latch elements 40 and 42 are carriedfast on the front and rear ends, respectively, of the platform 26.

The male' latch element 40 co-actswith a female latch element 43 whichis pivotally carried on the bracket 27 and pulled into unlatchedposition by atension spring 44, the opposite ends of which are affixedto thezbracket 20 and to said female latch element 43. The female latchelement 43 has an aperture formed in the top thereof, in the instance,by lancing and relatively upsetting adjacent top portions as shown inFIGS. 3 and 7 in which aperture the male latch element 40 isengaged incocking the springpowered power train 24. The headed male latch element42 co-acts with a female latch element 45 which is pivotally carried onthe free end of a piston rod 46 of said fluid powered power unit 34 andpulled into unlatched position by a tension spring 48, the opposite endsof which are aflixed to said piston rod 46 and to said female latchelement 45. The female latch element 45 is of inverted U- shape andhasan aperture in the top or bight thereof in which the head of the malelatch element 42 is engaged in cooking the fluid powered power train.

Said holder mechanism 30, in the instance, comprises an inner wrap 50 ofsoft metal which wraps about the fish rod 12 and has a pinchingmechanism 52 at the bottom thereof and an outer wrap 54 of harder metalwhich wraps about the inner wrap 50 and has a pinching mechanism 56 atthe top thereof. The inner wrap 50 has free ends which overlap at thetop thereof and is longer axially than the outer wrap 54. Said holdermechanism 30, in the instance, is able to accommodate all of thedifferent size fish rods in use and holds them firmly without injury tothe finish thereof. In operation of said power unit 10, the holdermechanism 30 is fastened to a moveable member to be power actuated. Thesupporting plate 14 is placed upon or fastened to a suitable supportingsurface. The supporting pipe 18 is inserted into the upright pipe 16 andthe wing nut I9 is tightened. The spring power train 24is cocked bymanually swinging the platform 26 and the rod 12 forward until the malelatch element 40 is engaged in the female latch element 43. Such cockingof the spring powered power train is against the pulling action of thetension spring 25 from the sketching thereof which, through the platform26, pulls counterclockwise upon the holding mechanism 30. The fluidpowered power train 32 is cocked by manually pulling the piston rod 46outwardly of the cylinder of the power unit 34 and bringing the femalelatch element 45 into engagement with the male latch element 42 withoutdisturbing the engagement between the latch elements 40 and 43. Suchcooking of the fluid powered power train 32 is against the pullingaction of the piston rod 46 from compression of air in said cylinder andpiston unit 34 which, through the male latch element 42 and the platform26, pulls counterclockwise upon the holding mechanism 30. The fluidpowered power train 32' may be cocked prior to cocking of the springpowered power train 24 in which case the female latch element 45 may beengaged with the male latch element 42 prior to manually swinging theplatform 26 forward to latch the male latch element 40 with the femalelatch element 43. The power unit 10 (in the instance, by a fish bitingupon the fish line which causes the fish rod 12, the holder mechanism 30and the platform 16 to pivot forwardly or clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1)is thus set in active cocked position for power actuating a moveablemember and when triggered, by an external force applied to said powerunit 10 (in the instance, by a fish biting upon the fish line whichcauses the fish rod 12, the holder mechanism 30 and the platform 26 topivot forwardly or clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1) which pivots theplatform 26 forwardly, the female latch element 43 is also pivotedforwardly with said platform 26 until female latch element 43 disengagesfrom the male latch element 40 as shown in FIG. 7, whereupon the springpowered power train 24 and the fluid powered power train 32 bothforcefully pull the platform 26 rearwardly and with it the holdermechanism 30 which, in the instance, carries with it the fishing rod 12to pull upon the fish line to impale the fish hook in the fishs mouth.At the end of the power stroke of said trigger actuated power unit 10the female latch element 45 disengages from the male latch element 42 bythe action of the tension s ring 48 pulling upon the female latchelement 45 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2. The handle of the fishrod 12 is cushioned, in the instance, by striking the bumper mechanism38 in the final movement of the fish rod 12. The fluid powered train 32forcefully pulls inwardly the piston rod 46 which, in lieu of the holdermechanism 30, may be fastened to a moveable member to be power actuated.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by my invention atrigger actuated power unit in which the object hereinabove set forthtogether with many thoroughly practical advantages has been successfullyachieved. While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been shownand described it is to be understood that variations and changes may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention as definedby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a trigger actuated power unit which is triggered by an externalforce applied thereto for power actuating a moveable object and whichhas a spring powered power train having latch means for cocking saidpower unit in active cocked position, the improvement comprising a fluidpowered power train operative in conjunction with said spring poweredpower train in that both power trains are actuated at substantially thesame time upon triggering of said power unit, said fluid powered powertrain having a moveable member which is power actuated in the powerstroke thereof, and latch means for said fluid powered power train forlatching said moveable member in active cocked position in operativerelation to said moveable object, said latch means for said springpowered power train unlatched first and said latch means for said fluidpowered power train unlatched second upon triggering of said power unitso that upon application of said external force said fluid powered powertrain is triggered to effect a power stroke in which said moveableobject is power actuated at least in part by said moveable member, saidlatch means for said fluid powered power train not unlatched until thelatch means for said spring powered power train is first unlatched.

2. The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimed in claim1, said latch means including mutually engageable latch elementscarried, respectively, by said moveable object and by said moveablemember for cocking said fluid powered power train.

3. The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimed in claim2, one of said mutually engageable latch elements being a male latchelement carried fast by one of said moveable object and said moveablemember and the other being a female latch element pivotally carried bythe other of said moveable object and said moveable member.

4. The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimed in claim3, said fluid powered power train including a cylinder and piston unithaving a power stroke in which a piston rod is pulled inwardly of saidcylinder, and a female latch element pivotally carried on said pistonrod near the free end thereof.

5. The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimed in claim4, a tension spring also carried on said piston rod operative upon saidfemale latch element biasing it to its released unlatched position.

6. The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimed in claim1, and means for cushioning the object which is power actuated near theend of its travel.

7. In a trigger actuated power unit which has means for holding afishing rod and which is triggered by an external force applied to thefishing line from a fish biting thereon for power actuating a fishingrod and which has a spring powered power train, the improvementcomprising a fluid powered power train operative in conjunction withsaid spring powered power train, said fluid powered power trainincluding a cylinder and a piston unit having a power stroke in which apiston rod is pulled inwardly of said cylinder, a male latch elementfast to said fishing rod holding means, a female latch element pivotallycarried on said piston rod near the free end thereof said female latchelementengageable with said male latch eiement for latching said pistonrod in active cocked position in operative relation to said fishing rodholding means so that when a fish bites said fishing line said pistonrod is triggered to effect a power stroke in which said fishing rodholding means is power actuated at least in part by said piston rod,whereby the front end of said fishing rod is thrown at least in part bysaid piston rod upwardly and rearwardly upon triggering of said triggeractuated power unit.

8. The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimed in claim7, said means for holding a fishing rod comprising inner and outer wrapmeans which wrap about the fishing rod, and pinching mechanisms for saidinner and outer wrap means, respectively, said inner wrap means beinglonger axially and of softer metal than said outer wrap means.

1. In a trigger actuated power unit which is triggered by an externalforce applied thereto for power actuating a moveable object and whichhas a spring powered power train having latch means for cocking saidpower unit in active cocked position, the improvement comprising a fluidpowered power train operative in conjunction with said spring poweredpower train in that both power trains are actuated at substantially thesame time upon triggering of said power unit, said fluid powered powertrain having a moveable member which is power actuated in the powerstroke thereof, and latch means for said fluid powered power train forlatching said moveable member in active cocked position in operativerelation to said moveable object, said latch means for said springpowered power train unlatched first and said latch means for said fluidpowered power train unlatched second upon triggering of said power unitso that upon application of said external force said fluid powered powertrain is triggered to effect a power stroke in which said moveableobject is power actuated at least in part by said moveable member, saidlatch means for said fluid powered power train not unlatched until thelatch means for said spring powered power train is first unlatched. 2.The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimed in claim 1,said latch means including mutually engageable latch elements carried,respectively, by said moveable object and by said moveable member forcocking said fluid powered power train.
 3. The improvement in a triggeractuated power unit as claimed in claim 2, one of said mutuallyengageable lAtch elements being a male latch element carried fast by oneof said moveable object and said moveable member and the other being afemale latch element pivotally carried by the other of said moveableobject and said moveable member.
 4. The improvement in a triggeractuated power unit as claimed in claim 3, said fluid powered powertrain including a cylinder and piston unit having a power stroke inwhich a piston rod is pulled inwardly of said cylinder, and a femalelatch element pivotally carried on said piston rod near the free endthereof.
 5. The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimedin claim 4, a tension spring also carried on said piston rod operativeupon said female latch element biasing it to its released unlatchedposition.
 6. The improvement in a trigger actuated power unit as claimedin claim 1, and means for cushioning the object which is power actuatednear the end of its travel.
 7. In a trigger actuated power unit whichhas means for holding a fishing rod and which is triggered by anexternal force applied to the fishing line from a fish biting thereonfor power actuating a fishing rod and which has a spring powered powertrain, the improvement comprising a fluid powered power train operativein conjunction with said spring powered power train, said fluid poweredpower train including a cylinder and a piston unit having a power strokein which a piston rod is pulled inwardly of said cylinder, a male latchelement fast to said fishing rod holding means, a female latch elementpivotally carried on said piston rod near the free end thereof, saidfemale latch element engageable with said male latch element forlatching said piston rod in active cocked position in operative relationto said fishing rod holding means so that when a fish bites said fishingline said piston rod is triggered to effect a power stroke in which saidfishing rod holding means is power actuated at least in part by saidpiston rod, whereby the front end of said fishing rod is thrown at leastin part by said piston rod upwardly and rearwardly upon triggering ofsaid trigger actuated power unit.
 8. The improvement in a triggeractuated power unit as claimed in claim 7, said means for holding afishing rod comprising inner and outer wrap means which wrap about thefishing rod, and pinching mechanisms for said inner and outer wrapmeans, respectively, said inner wrap means being longer axially and ofsofter metal than said outer wrap means.